- Cassius and Brutus are bickering and yelling at each other in a tent before they go to war with Marc Anthony; they are blaming each other for what has happened, and are calling each other out for being “Bad Romans”. - Brutus tells Cassius that Portia is dead, she committed suicide, and this reconciles the two and ends their heated argument. - Messala received letters that Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius killed 100 senators, but Brutus said he received letters that 70 senators died. - Brutus overrules Cassius’s decision, which is to let Antony’s army attack them while they rest and prepare, and decides to attack Antony even though he knows there is a great risk of defeat. - Octavius and Mark Antony’s army continues to get stronger while Brutus and Cassius’ army is already at their strongest point. This is when the murderers admit defeat is near. - The ghost of Caesar visits Brutus while he sleeps
Important Lines*MLA format
1. “The name of Cassius honors this corruption, And chastisement doth therefore hide his head”(Julius Caesar4.3.16-17). a. Speaker: Brutus b. Speaker is talking to: Cassius c. Context: Brutus and Cassius share a private conversation within a tent about bribery. d. Significance: This line tells the crowd that Brutus finally realizes Cassius’ intentions. He sees that Cassius didn’t kill Caesar for Rome’s sake but for the sake of himself. He says that corruption hides Cassius’ motives and that he will be unpunished by the chastisement that is proceeding in Rome.
2. “Must I budge? Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch Under your testy humor? By the gods, you must digest the venom of your spleen”(Julius Caesar 4.3.48-51). a. Speaker: Brutusb. Speaker is talking to: Cassius c. Context: Brutus and Cassius are having an argument, during which Brutus insults Cassius.d. Significance: Brutus is still accusing Cassius of technically being in control of the situation the entire time. He is being sarcastic when saying, should i be respectful to you (observe), should I bow at your feet(crouch), and should I just bait at your anger? Brutus is taking a stand against Cassius because he realizes that he has been in control of him the entire time, and Brutus will let Cassius cool down before talking to him again. Cassius goes on a few lines later to feel sorry for himself, and is using guilt to win back Brutus.
*3. “Did not great Julius bleed for justice’s sake? What villain touched his body that did stab and not for justice? What, shall one of us that struck the foremost man of all this world but for supporting robbers, shall we now contaminate our fingers with base bribes and sell the mighty space of our large honors for so much trash as may be gasped thus? I had rather be a dog and bay the moon than such a Roman” (Julius CaesarIV. iii. 19-29.) a. Speaker: Brutusb. Speaker is talking to: Cassiusc. Context: During their argument, Brutus scolds Cassius for writing to a soldier that took a bribe. He chastises him and escalates their fight. d. Significance: Brutus attempts once again to defend their cause. He does this in an attempt to win the argument with Cassius. Brutus states that every man who stabbed Caesar did so for justice and for the good of Rome. He still sees himself and the conspirators as purgers, not murders although, they begin to question their reasons for killing Caesar.
*4. “Even so great men great losses should endure” (Julius Caesar IV.iii..221).a. Speaker: Messala b. Speaking to Brutusc. Context: Messala is speaking to Brutus about the loss of his wife, Portia.d. Significance: Messala is saying that a great man, meaning Brutus, must endure the great loss of his wife, Portia. The Messala is telling Brutus that he is an honorable man, and as to be strong and not look back on the past.
5. “Tis better that the enemy seek us;so shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, doing himself offense, whilst we, lying still, are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness” (Julius Caesar IV.iii.229-232). a. Speaker: Cassiusb. Speaking To: Brutusc. Context: Cassius is telling Brutus that they should not attack Marc Antony and the plebeiansd. Significance: This is important because Marc Antony and the plebeians will become weary and tired as they come to find the murderers of Caesar, while Cassius, Brutus and the other murderers prepare for the fight and get lots of rest. However, Brutus ignores Cassius’ advice and attacks Antony’s army, who keeps getting stronger and stronger while Brutus’s army has already reached its peak of greatness; because of Brutus’s fumble, his army soon admits defeat.
Character Development - Brutus begins to have more of a temper
- Cassius is no longer automatically listening to Brutus because Brutus isn’t needed as a main part of his plan - Brutus develops a subconscious guilt for killing Caesar
- Brutus loses a lot of his old caring personality. This is most clearly shown when the news or Portia’s death is broken to Brutus and he brushes aside the news. - **Brutus begins to doubt himself, and in spite of himself, becomes harsh and bitter.
-Brutus, changes again from a follower to a leader, by over-ruling Cassius who was the original leader.
Motifs*Any new examples for the previous motifs? Any new motifs?
- ***Brutus questions Cassius’ manhood which motivates him to become angry, and a fight to form between the two men.
- ***Brutus is constantly reminded of his guilt. Most recently, the ghost of Caesar is a symbol of Brutus’ guilt for killing Caesar. In the past, Brutus being unable to sleep was proof that he was feeling guilty and uneasy about the plans to kill Caesar. Brutus was the only one who saw the ghost. None of the other men in the tent saw or hear the ghost of Caesar. Brutus saw the ghost because he could not fall asleep.
-***Brutus has a facade, by letting his remorse for Portia not show to his friends. This is resembling Caesar’s motif because he is humble on the outside but depressed on the inside. Just as Caesar was humble on the outside but arrogant on the inside.
-***There is a sleepy and creepy song that is playing while Brutus begins to fall asleep. This is an omen and an ominous sign for the future. Brutus calls it a “Murderous tone.”
- ***Brutus has a nightmare of the ghost of Caesar, and it is always a sign of guilt when someone has a nightmare.
New Material for Old Topics*Look at the notes for Acts 1-3 – Any new events or examples to add to those topics?
- Octavius was previously mentioned in the the play but was never a big part until this scene when he forms his army with Mark Antony.
- The tension between Brutus and Cassius rises and eventually boils over during their fight, which is when Cassius lets out a lot of his anger towards Brutus.
One Sentence (Summary Sentence):
***Brutus brings the news of Portia’s death and argues with Cassius over whether or not they should attack Mark Antony at Philippe. Eventually, Cassius’s decision is overruled by Brutus and the night after they decide to attack, Brutus is visited by Caesar’s ghost.
Cassius-Katie Collins
Brutus=Keisha Lozano
Messala=Samantha Pincus
Ghost=Brooke Bartels
*Lucilius/Varro= Dylan Sen
*Poet/Claudius=Meg Berlengi
*Lucius = Melissa Lauro
Important Events
- Cassius and Brutus are bickering and yelling at each other in a tent before they go to war with Marc Anthony; they are blaming each other for what has happened, and are calling each other out for being “Bad Romans”.
- Brutus tells Cassius that Portia is dead, she committed suicide, and this reconciles the two and ends their heated argument.
- Messala received letters that Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius killed 100 senators, but Brutus said he received letters that 70 senators died.
- Brutus overrules Cassius’s decision, which is to let Antony’s army attack them while they rest and prepare, and decides to attack Antony even though he knows there is a great risk of defeat.
- Octavius and Mark Antony’s army continues to get stronger while Brutus and Cassius’ army is already at their strongest point. This is when the murderers admit defeat is near.
- The ghost of Caesar visits Brutus while he sleeps
Important Lines *MLA format
1. “The name of Cassius honors this corruption, And chastisement doth therefore hide his head”(Julius Caesar 4.3.16-17). a. Speaker: Brutus
b. Speaker is talking to: Cassius
c. Context: Brutus and Cassius share a private conversation within a tent about bribery.
d. Significance: This line tells the crowd that Brutus finally realizes Cassius’ intentions. He sees that Cassius didn’t kill Caesar for Rome’s sake but for the sake of himself. He says that corruption hides Cassius’ motives and that he will be unpunished by the chastisement that is proceeding in Rome.
2. “Must I budge? Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch Under your testy humor? By the gods, you must digest the venom of your spleen”(Julius Caesar 4.3.48-51).
a. Speaker: Brutus b. Speaker is talking to: Cassius
c. Context: Brutus and Cassius are having an argument, during which Brutus insults Cassius. d. Significance: Brutus is still accusing Cassius of technically being in control of the situation the entire time. He is being sarcastic when saying, should i be respectful to you (observe), should I bow at your feet(crouch), and should I just bait at your anger? Brutus is taking a stand against Cassius because he realizes that he has been in control of him the entire time, and Brutus will let Cassius cool down before talking to him again. Cassius goes on a few lines later to feel sorry for himself, and is using guilt to win back Brutus.
*3. “Did not great Julius bleed for justice’s sake? What villain touched his body that did stab and not for justice? What, shall one of us that struck the foremost man of all this world but for supporting robbers, shall we now contaminate our fingers with base bribes and sell the mighty space of our large honors for so much trash as may be gasped thus? I had rather be a dog and bay the moon than such a Roman” (Julius Caesar IV. iii. 19-29.)
a. Speaker: Brutus b. Speaker is talking to: Cassius c. Context: During their argument, Brutus scolds Cassius for writing to a soldier that took a bribe. He chastises him and escalates their fight.
d. Significance: Brutus attempts once again to defend their cause. He does this in an attempt to win the argument with Cassius. Brutus states that every man who stabbed Caesar did so for justice and for the good of Rome. He still sees himself and the conspirators as purgers, not murders although, they begin to question their reasons for killing Caesar.
*4. “Even so great men great losses should endure” (Julius Caesar IV.iii..221). a. Speaker: Messala
b. Speaking to Brutus c. Context: Messala is speaking to Brutus about the loss of his wife, Portia. d. Significance: Messala is saying that a great man, meaning Brutus, must endure the great loss of his wife, Portia. The Messala is telling Brutus that he is an honorable man, and as to be strong and not look back on the past.
5. “Tis better that the enemy seek us;so shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, doing himself offense, whilst we, lying still, are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness” (Julius Caesar IV.iii.229-232).
a. Speaker: Cassius b. Speaking To: Brutus c. Context: Cassius is telling Brutus that they should not attack Marc Antony and the plebeians d. Significance: This is important because Marc Antony and the plebeians will become weary and tired as they come to find the murderers of Caesar, while Cassius, Brutus and the other murderers prepare for the fight and get lots of rest. However, Brutus ignores Cassius’ advice and attacks Antony’s army, who keeps getting stronger and stronger while Brutus’s army has already reached its peak of greatness; because of Brutus’s fumble, his army soon admits defeat.
Character Development
- Brutus begins to have more of a temper
- Cassius is no longer automatically listening to Brutus because Brutus isn’t needed as a main part of his plan
- Brutus develops a subconscious guilt for killing Caesar
- Brutus loses a lot of his old caring personality. This is most clearly shown when the news or Portia’s death is broken to Brutus and he brushes aside the news.
- **Brutus begins to doubt himself, and in spite of himself, becomes harsh and bitter.
-Brutus, changes again from a follower to a leader, by over-ruling Cassius who was the original leader.
Motifs *Any new examples for the previous motifs? Any new motifs?
- ***Brutus questions Cassius’ manhood which motivates him to become angry, and a fight to form between the two men.
- ***Brutus is constantly reminded of his guilt. Most recently, the ghost of Caesar is a symbol of Brutus’ guilt for killing Caesar. In the past, Brutus being unable to sleep was proof that he was feeling guilty and uneasy about the plans to kill Caesar. Brutus was the only one who saw the ghost. None of the other men in the tent saw or hear the ghost of Caesar. Brutus saw the ghost because he could not fall asleep.
-***Brutus has a facade, by letting his remorse for Portia not show to his friends. This is resembling Caesar’s motif because he is humble on the outside but depressed on the inside. Just as Caesar was humble on the outside but arrogant on the inside.
-***There is a sleepy and creepy song that is playing while Brutus begins to fall asleep. This is an omen and an ominous sign for the future. Brutus calls it a “Murderous tone.”
- ***Brutus has a nightmare of the ghost of Caesar, and it is always a sign of guilt when someone has a nightmare.
New Material for Old Topics *Look at the notes for Acts 1-3 – Any new events or examples to add to those topics?
- Octavius was previously mentioned in the the play but was never a big part until this scene when he forms his army with Mark Antony.
- The tension between Brutus and Cassius rises and eventually boils over during their fight, which is when Cassius lets out a lot of his anger towards Brutus.
One Sentence (Summary Sentence):
***Brutus brings the news of Portia’s death and argues with Cassius over whether or not they should attack Mark Antony at Philippe. Eventually, Cassius’s decision is overruled by Brutus and the night after they decide to attack, Brutus is visited by Caesar’s ghost.